Two more LNG carriers to have ME-GI engines

The MAN B&W G70ME-GI engine

JULY 19, 2017 — Haugesund, Norway, headquartered Knutsen OAS Shipping has ordered four MAN B&W 5G70ME-GI engines with EGR systems in connection with the construction of two 180,000 cu.m LNG tanker newbuildings. Upon delivery in 2020, the vessels will transport cargoes worldwide for two Spanish utility companies.

The two utilities have entered 20 year agreements that will seem them purchase a combined total of over one million tonnes a year of LNG on commencement of operations by the LNG export facility currently being developed near Corpus Christi, Texas, by Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC – a subsidiary of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LNG).

The order for the Knutsen ME-GI engines follows the path initiated by Gas Natural Fenosa, the multinational Spanish group that was the pioneer in adopting ME-GI technology in an order for four LNG tankers in 2013.

Bjarne Foldager – ‎Vice President Sales & Promotion, Two-Stroke Business at MAN Diesel & Turbo – said: “These orders are notable in that they are the sixth and seventh such carriers bound for service for Spanish utilities that have been ordered within the past four years alone. As such, our G70ME-GI engine has become a popular choice for LNG carriers globally. This can be attributed in great part to the ME-GI’s embracing of the Diesel principle, which is simply the most effective method of converting gas fuel to propulsion power.”

About the ME-GI engine

The ME-GI dual-fuel low-speed diesel engine is the culmination of many years of development work. Depending on relative price and availability, as well as environmental considerations, the ME-GI engine gives shipowners and operators the option of using either HFO or gas – predominantly natural gas.

The ME-GI is a Diesel engine in contrast to the other dual- or triple-fuel engines on the market, which are Otto engines. Simply put, engines that operate according to the Diesel principle have a higher efficiency and power concentration than those following the Otto principle.

MAN Diesel & Turbo sees significant opportunities arising for gas-fueled tonnage as fuel prices rise and exhaust-emission limits tighten. Research indicates that the ME-GI engine delivers significant reductions in CO2, NOx and SOx emissions. Furthermore, the ME-GI engine’s negligible methane slip makes it the most environmentally-friendly technology available. As such, the ME-GI engine represents a highly efficient, flexible, propulsion-plant solution.

In May 2017, an ME-GIE variant passed operational tests running on ethane, while an ME-LGI counterpart to the ME-GI that runs on LPG, methanol and other liquid gases has also successfully been introduced to the market.